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Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila (Urdu: شاهی
قلعہ ) is citadel of the city of
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern corner
of the Walled City of Lahore. The trapezoidal composition is spread
over 20 hectares. Origins of the fort go as far back as antiquity,
however, the existing base structure was built during the reign of
Mughal emperor Akbar (1556-1605), and was egularly
upgraded by subsequent rulers. Thus the fort manifests the rich
traditions of the entire Mughal
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architecture. Some of the famous
sites inside the fort include: Sheesh Mahal, Alamgiri Gate, Naulakha
pavilion, and Moti Masjid. In 1981, the fort was inscribed as
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a
UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Shalimar Gardens (Lahore).
Origins
The origins of Lahore Fort are obscure and are traditionally
based on various myths. However, during the excavation carried out
in 1959 by the Department of Archaeology, in front of Diwan-e-Aam,
a gold coin of Mahmood of Ghazni dated A.H. 416 (1025 A.D.) was
found at a depth of 7.62 meters from the level of the lawns.
Cultural layers continued to a further depth of 5 meters, giving
strong indications that people had lived here, long before the
conquest of Lahore by Mahmood in 1021 A.D. Further mention of the
fort is traceable to Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Ghuri's successive
invasions of Lahore from 1180 to 1186 A.D.
Location of Fort along the Walled City of Lahore
- It cannot be said with certainty when the Lahore Fort was
originally constructed or by whom, since this information is
lost to history, possibly forever. However, evidence found in
archaeological digs gives strong indications that it was built
long before 1025 A.D
- 1241 A.D. - Destroyed by Mongols.
- 1267 A.D. - Rebuilt by Sultan Ghiyas ud din
Balban.
- 1398 A.D. - Destroyed again, by Amir Tamir's army.
- 1421 A.D. - Rebuilt in mud by Sultan Mubark Shah
Syed.
- 1432 A.D. - The fort is occupied by Shaikh Ali of Kabul who
makes repairs to the damages inflicted on it by Shaikha
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- Khokhar.
- 1566 A.D. - Rebuilt by Mughal emperor
Akbar, in solid brick
masonry on its earlier foundations. Also perhaps, its area was
extended towards the river Ravi, which then and up to about 1849
A.D., used to flow along its fortification on the north. Akbar
also built Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am, the famous Jharoka-e-Darshan
(Balcony for Royal Appearance), Masjidi Gate etc.
- 1618 A.D. - Jehangir adds Doulat Khana-e-Jehangir
- 1631 A.D. - Shahjahan builds Shish Mahal (Mirror
Palace).
- 1633 A.D. - Shahjahan builds Khawabgah (a dream place
or sleeping area), Hamam (bath ), Khilwat Khana
(retiring room), and Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque).
- 1645 A.D. - Shahjahan builds Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of
Special Audience).
- 1674 A.D. - Aurangzeb adds the massively fluted Alamgiri
Gate.
- (Sometime during) 1799-1839 A.D. - The outer fortification
wall on the north with the moat, the marble athdera, Havaeli
Mai Jindan and Bara Dari Raja Dhiyan Singh were
constructed by Ranjit Singh, Sikh ruler from 1799-1839 A.D.
- 1846 A.D. - Occupied by the British.
- 1927 A.D. - The British hand over the Fort to the Department
of Archaeology after demolishing a portion of the
fortification wall on the south and converting it into a stepped
form thus defortifying the fort.
Structure
The strategic location of Lahore city between the Mughal
territories and the strongholds of Kabul, Multan, and Kashmir
required the dismantling of the old mud-fort and fortification with
solid brick masonry The structure is dominated by Persian influence
that deepened with the successive refurbishments by subsequent
emperors.
The fort is clearly divided into two sections: first the
administrative section, which is well connected with main entrances,
and comprises larger garden areas and Diwan-e-Aam for royal
audiences. The second - a private and concealed residential section
- is divided into courts in the northern part, accessible through
'elephant gate'. It also contains Shish Mahal (Hall of
Mirrors of Mirror Palace), and spacious bedrooms and smaller
gardens.On the outside, the walls are decorated with blue Persian
kashi tiles. The original entrance faces the Maryam Zamani Mosque,
whereas the larger Alamgiri Gate opens to the Hazuri Bagh through to
the majestic Badshahi Mosque.
Pictures
Of Lahore Fort
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